I have friends that live in California and they took vacation to Alabama. He mentioned how the kids say “yes/no sir” and no mouthing off. The adults are expected to correct not only their own kids but other people kids as well. One thing, if you are someplace else and act up, when you get home, you have some ‘splaining to do and a can of “womp @$$” as well !
Funny thing, I am from Indiana and even though it is a Northern state, it has a lot of the characteristics of the South. I remember when I was in middle school, I pulled some crap and when I got home, got my @$$ kicked !
One thing, about 10 years ago, I was at the video rental place and some 13 year kid was acting up in front of me and mouthing off to his grandmother. She didn’t do anything about it. I had to bite my tongue very hard to say nothing. Back in Indiana and I know in the South, the people around would have corrected the kid. In my opinion, we need this across the country !
I have friends in Indiana, one of whom became a teacher in the early ‘80s. I talked with him after he’d taught for a few years and a couple of different places, and he talked about how the kids in the farming areas were dramatically more polite and well behaved than the kids in a town of about 20,000 where he grew up and taught for while.
I think it is regional, and urban/rural is also a big factor in any state.